What We Believe
We believe that God created human beings in God’s image. We believe that humans can choose to accept or reject a relationship with God. We believe that all humans need to be in relationship with God. We also believe that human beings were created to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.
We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Word of the Father, and is both wholly Divine and wholly Human. Jesus is the Messiah who suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried in order to reconcile us to the Father, providing forgiveness for the original and actual sins of humanity. We believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. We believe that He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who was sent by the Father and Son, is both a personal being and divine, of one nature with the Father and the Son.
We believe that the Bible is Holy Scripture and contains all things necessary for salvation. We believe that both the Old and New Testaments are authoritative and important for study. We find that the Old and New Testaments are not contrary, as Christ offers salvation to humanity in both, acting as the only mediator between God and humanity. Yet, we read the entire Bible through the lens of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
We believe that God created human beings in God’s image. We believe that humans can choose to accept or reject a relationship with God. We believe that all humans need to be in relationship with God.
We hold in common with all Christians a faith in the mystery of salvation in and through Jesus Christ. We believe that the church is the body of Christ, an extension of Christ’s life and ministry in the world today. We believe that the mission of the church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. We believe that the church is “the communion of saints,” a community made up of all past, present, and future disciples of Christ. We believe that the church is called to worship God and to support those who participate in its life as they grow in faith. We believe that the Church is where the Word of God is preached and the Sacraments of Baptism and Communion are administered.
In the sacrament of Holy Communion we affirm the real presence of Christ. As a means of grace we serve an open table, inviting all to participate who desire a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. Through the outward and visible signs of bread and juice, the inward and spiritual reality of the Body and Blood of Christ are offered to believers.
Baptism as a sacrament is a sign and act by
which God offers us salvation as a gift, without a price. Baptism is a symbol of new life and forgiveness of sins. Thus, baptism is performed only once in a person’s life. We recognize baptisms by other denominations as long as they are consecrated in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.